Palo Alto Weekly

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START YOUR OWN FLOCK ... Julie Moore will talk about "Raising Backyard Chickens" from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, at the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, 700 Alma St., Menlo Park. Cost is $38 for nonresidents, $29 for residents. Information: 650-330-2200 or www.menlopark.org or email: csd@menlopark.org

DESIGN TRENDS ... A free workshop on "Whole House and Additions" will be held at the Harrell Remodeling Design Center, 1954 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17. A light meal will be served. Information: http://harrell-remodeling.com or 650-230-2900

BONSAIS, DWARFS ... Ted Kipping, a certified arborist for Tree Shapers, will talk to the De Anza Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society about bonsai and dwarf conifers at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17, at the Hillview Community Center, Room 12, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos. The public is welcome. Information: www.treeshapers.com

DESIGN HELP ... Annette DeStefano, owner of Operation Color - Creative Color and Interior Design, will teach a class called "Do It Yourself (With Help) Interior Design" from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, April 18 to May 2, at Palo Alto High School, Room 1706, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto. The class will deal with design basics, space planning, pitfalls and budgeting. Participants are invited to bring photos of design issues plus pictures of admired interiors. Cost is $53 plus a $10 materials fee payable to the instructor. Information: 650-329-3752 or www.paadultschool.org

LEGENDARY DESIGNER ... Hutton Wilkinson, president of Tony Duquette, Inc., will speak about the designer, whose clients included Lurline Roth (former owner of Filoli), Lady Elsie de Wolfe Mendl, the Duchess of Windsor and Dodie Rosenkrans, from 2 to 3 p.m. on Friday, April 19, at Filoli, 86 Cañada Road, Woodside. The presentation on Duquette, who was the first American artist to have a one-man show at the Louvre, will be followed by a book sale and signing, as well as a reception. Tickets are $30 for nonmembers, $25 for members. Information: 650-364-8300 or www.filoli.org

COMPOST BASICS ... A free workshop on how to make compost is set for 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 20, at Cubberley Community Center, Room H-1, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Earth Machine™ compost bin and worm bin and composting accessories will be for sale. Information: 408-918-4640

A PRODUCTIVE GARDEN ... UC Master Gardener Candace Simpson will teach a class called "Quick Steps to a Productive, Organic Vegetable Garden" from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at Common Ground, 559 College Ave., Palo Alto. Recommended for less-experienced gardeners, the class will cover location and preparation of beds, soil, watering, seeds and seedlings, fertilizing and harvesting. Cost is $31. Information: 650-493-6072 or www.commongroundinpaloalto.org